Reading: Luke 5.1–11 While Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats thereContinue reading
Month: January 2025
A message from Bishop Rachel- Safeguarding in the media
On Tuesday evening 28 January, I watched the Channel 4 news with shock and dismay as yet another Church of England situation was under the spotlight in relation to abuse.Continue reading
How are we doing? Fill out the Diocesan Communications survey and let us know!
The Diocesan Communications Team would be really grateful if you could fill in our communications survey so we can get an idea of what we are doing well and how weContinue reading
Christian Aid’s Sudan Crisis Appeal
“The attacks and the war came closer and closer to our home. We waited as long as we could, hoping it would calm down, but eventually, we had to leave.”Continue reading
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to be extended
It was announced in the House of Commons Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday (22 January 2025) that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will continue for another 12 monthsContinue reading
Bishops’ charity choices for episcopal collections 2025
Bishop Rachel and Bishop Robert have chosen three charities to receive donations from the services they lead in 2025. The collections taken at these services are known as ‘episcopal collections’.Continue reading
Church of England national online service to be held at St Catharine’s
The Church of England’s weekly online service, streamed every Sunday at 9am, is being hosted at St Catharine’s, Gloucester in its national broadcast on 23 February 2025. Recording will takeContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 28 January 2025
Ivor Perl, a survivor of the Holocaust, was speaking on the radio last week of his experiences in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He and his older brother survived whileContinue reading
Open The Gospel – 2 February: Candlemas
Reading: Luke 2.22–40 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it isContinue reading
Celebrating grandparents and grandchildren with Faithful Generations
“I deeply believe that the precious relationships between grandparents and grandchildren have profound and lasting effects. My grandma had (and still has long after her death) a huge influence onContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 21 January 2025
Yesterday, in his inauguration speech, 78-year-old President Trump stated that the golden age of America was beginning.
“What Faithful Generations means to me”: reflections from our volunteers
As we approach our Faithful Generations event and workshop, we hear from two of our dedicated volunteers, Annette Teschner and Bill Hughes, about what Faithful Generations means to them, andContinue reading
Community Choir
A set up grant was given from Sylvanus Lysons to Greenway Benefice community choir to enable the growth of the choir to involve more people from the Community.
Bishop Rachel’s statement on the ceasefire-hostage release agreement
I am extremely glad to hear the news of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement. Whilst there is still a long way to go it shines some light in the darkness forContinue reading
Open The Gospel January – 26 January, Epiphany 3
Introduction ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ Us Brits have a deep aversion to arrogance. We like to putContinue reading
Community Choir
Sylvanus Lysons have given a once off grant to encourage the work of the Greenway Benefice Community Choir, already established and a valuable part of the mission of the church. Continue reading
The Arc Toddler Group
Supporting the set up and ongoing work of a new missional Toddler group in Cooper’s Edge, enabling over 20 families to come weekly at a minimal cost, so creating communityContinue reading
Join us as we Pray Like Hannah, every day
Join us in daily prayer from 15 January, as we prepare to welcome people of grandparent generation and their young people to Faithful Generations. We’re inviting you to say aContinue reading
Energy Footprint Tool now open for 2024 data
The Church of England’s Energy Footprint Tool is now open for churches to enter energy use from 2024. The data collected from the tool will help your church understand itsContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 14 January 2025
I was fortunate enough to spend two days at the beginning of January visiting the city of Dublin. It was my first time and yes, I did do a tourContinue reading
A second life for St Mary’s Tetbury nature-friendly Christmas tree
St Mary’s Church in Tetbury celebrated Christmas with a nature-friendly tree that’s now set to live on beyond the festive season. As part of the Sustainable Church Flower movement, theContinue reading
St Mary’s Newent marks 350th anniversary of ‘Tumbledown Sunday’
This January, St Mary’s Church in Newent is hosting two events to commemorate the close of the 350th anniversary year of ‘Tumbledown Sunday’, a day in 1674 when the churchContinue reading
Open The Gospel January – 19 January, Epiphany 2
Introduction Maybe it’s just me, but I find great comfort in the fact that even Jesus felt pushed into something he didn’t feel quite ready for! It puts in myContinue reading
